#ncga: We don’t need no (new) regulations
We don’t need no education regulations
We dont need no thought control price controls
No dark sarcasm nosy bureaucrats in the classroom our business
Teachers Politicians, leave them kids folks alone
It’s widely accepted that voters in November sent a message loud and clear: Butt out. And what have Republicans in Raleigh taken away from all that?:
North Carolina legislators expect to consider new state regulations in 2015 for fast-growing “sharing economy” companies such as Uber and Airbnb.
The businesses – which allow anyone to become a taxi driver or innkeeper through an online app – don’t face the same rules as traditional cabs and hotels. Sen. Bill Rabon, a Southport Republican, said legislation should make sure the state isn’t losing revenue because of the services.
“Are these drivers paying taxes on their income?” he said during a legislative hearing Tuesday. “Do we have a way of tracking that? If not, we should.”[…]
Hmm. Rabon represents Wilmington and other coastal resort areas with quite a few hotels and cabs. I am SURE his concern here is pure coincidence that has *nothing* to do with PACs or campaign contributions. MORE:
Other legislators said they want to make sure drivers and short-term rental hosts carry adequate insurance and maintain safety standards. Sen. Floyd McKissick, a Durham Democrat, said North Carolina should look to states like California and Colorado that already regulate the services.
Traditional taxi companies and inns say customers are deserting them for the online services that undercut their pricing by avoiding taxes and re
gulatory hurdles. Doris Jurkiewicz, who owns the Oakwood Inn in Raleigh, told legislators that the competition could force her bed and breakfast to close.[…]
(A bed-and-breakfast in Raleigh? *How romantic.*) Holy Charles Darwin! Sounds like survival of the fittest to me. What’s next? Legislation to protect video rental stores from Netflix?
There’s a pretty interesting phenomenon in free market economics called creative destruction. Businesses need to change with the times — with the waves of technological innovation. (Anybody seen a Blockbuster store lately? Notice how phone and cable companies are now focusing primarily on Internet service?) If your competition is smacking you around, you need to reevaluate your business model and make changes QUICK. Perhaps you and your business are not meant to survive. It should all be up to you and your level of hard work, not about how much government help or “protection” you get. MORE:
Much of Tuesday’s discussion focused on insurance. Oyango Snell, a lawyer for Property Casualty Insurers, said drivers for Uber or Lyft aren’t fully covered. The companies’ insurance only kicks in when the driver gets a ride request – and until then, they’re on their personal insurance policy.
Snell said companies should provide insurance whenever a driver logs in. April Mims of Lyft said that requirement would be unnecessary and expensive. “We anticipated that this could increase our insurance costs up to 500 percent,” she said.
Wait. Isn’t there already a state law requiring adequate levels of insurance to lawfully operate a motor vehicle? It sounds like these people are covered around the
clock. The payer just changes. MORE:
Thomas Powers, a city attorney for Charlotte, said municipalities want the power to regulate all ride services. The General Assembly banned cities from regulating the online services in 2013. Longtime taxi companies, Powers said, are adding an app and “saying they’re exempt from all of our regulations.”
Aah. So, the truth comes to the surface. The League of Muncipalities is twisting arms and passing around cash on Jones Street. MORE:
Rep. Julia Howard, who chaired Tuesday’s hearing, said legislation will likely be introduced when the General Assembly returns in January.
That settles it. The fact that the president emeritus of The Richard Morgan Fan Club is behind this makes it a clear stinker. Some sensible folks on Jones Street need to shoot this sucker down before it even gets off the ground.
Government should stand back and allow innovations like these to thrive and serve the people. It’s not my problem, or the state’s problem, if you are doing business under an outdated, obsolete model.
“Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.” That quote is from Ronald Reagan. Hey, Republicans in Raleigh – stop wishing for another Reagan and start putting his principles into action, OK? We’d all appreciate it. Thanks.
Reagan was a great one for quotes. He was also good at growing the size of government.
The fact that the president emeritus of The Richard Morgan Fan Club is behind this makes it a clear stinker. Some sensible folks on Jones Street need to shoot this sucker down before it even gets off the ground.
No, no, not true. Isn’t it about time that we let bygones be bygones and the NCGOP work to welcome Richard Morgan back into the party. Someone should mount a campaign to get Richard Morgan back it charge of things. It would be a good show of unity with the party’s new direction toward statism. Maybe even have a “Welcome Home Richard, We Missed You” banquet celebrating the party’s new direction. Its all about the big tent theory you know that’s the most important thing that we have a big tent where diversity and all are welcome and everyone’s views are equally pursued and celebrated.
Actually, if you look at recent elections in the UK, the small tent is clobbering the big tent because the small tent gives the voters what they want.
It’s a sad commentary that these yahoos could say things like this publicly and not be laughed at and tossed out of office.
These “concerns” they have are not reflective of the appropriate role of the state… “getting your cut” is not it – that’s what the mafia does.
Free markets and competition aer good things – protecting businesses from them by sticking your government noses in where it doesnt belong is “not” productive “or” their job.